Árstíðir

“If you've ever longed for the combination of Sigur Rós and Radiohead combined - listen no further” / Jer@SBS, Sleepingbagstudios.ca


New Beginnings

Newly signed to the Dutch/American label M.A.R.S.Worldwide, and with the pending release of their crowning achievement BLIK about to explode onto the soundwaves, the eclectic indie outfit from Iceland is bracing to make another splash onto the international arena in 2023.


Volcanic Eruptions

Árstíðir leapt onto the international arena in 2010 as clouds of ash from the Eyljafjallajökull volcano spread across Europe making Iceland the talk of the day. Having spawned two #1 hit singles in Iceland, the eclectic trio formed by two years earlier in Reykjavík now embarked on a relentless touring excursion spanning Siberia to San Diego, Zagreb to Svalbard, while at the same time going viral with an 800 year old hymn performed impromptu at a train station and gathering a cult like following by devoted fans that has crowdfunded half of the band's 8 album strong discography.

The bedrock of Árstíðir's music is the chemistry between members, Daníel, Gunnar & Ragnar and their shared passion for vocal harmonies. At the core the songs are pop music with gripping choruses, robed in suave and sometimes surprising arrangements. Never afraid to experiment the band has collaborated with the likes of Ólafur Arnalds as well as creating two collaborative albums with Iceland's premier songwriting legend Magnús Þór Sigmundsson & their loved touring partner of yore Anneke Van Giersbergen.

Before temporarily stepping of the touring trail on account of some pandemic, a panel consisting of Tow Waits, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Beth Gibbons (Portishead) crowned the band's album Nivalis 'Indie album of the year' at the Independent Music Awards in 2019. The pandemic saw the trio write and record more than 30 new songs generating the two sister albums Pendúll & Blik. The latter, due to be released in March of 2023, constitutes their most commercial production to date with songs commanding the listeners to finish their Gin & Tonic and brave the dance floor.


Discography:

Árstíðir (2009)
Svefns og vöku skil (2011)
Tvíeind, EP (2012)
Hvel (2015)
Verloren Verleden (2016) – collaboration with Anneke Van Giersbergen
Garðurinn minn (2018) – collaboration with Magnús Þór Sigmundsson
Nivalis (2018)
Pendúll (2021)
Blik ( due March 2023)


Awards:

Eiserner Eversteiner Folk Music Awards, 2012
Album of the year, Independent Music Awards (IMA), 2019
Music video of the year, Independent Music Awards (IMA), 2020
Acoustic song of the year, International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA) 2021
Song of the year, The John Lennon Songwriting Competition (2021)

Selected Music Videos:

Entangled:
https://youtu.be/ABHXBs3gwNE

While This Way:
https://youtu.be/VrBOVW9vKqg

Lover:
https://youtu.be/Pi0bAoN143o

Passion:
https://youtu.be/JhzMUeV6D6c

All Is Well:
https://youtu.be/WRW5Nbgq6XI

You Again:
https://youtu.be/lrehHSIfjaQ

Shades:
https://youtu.be/1sN01xvvfsg

Hvenær kemur sól:
https://youtu.be/b6tKkSW3rSE

Things You Said:
https://youtu.be/dP1-oMkumkU

Press Highlights:

“Árstidir can be Iceland's next breakout band.”
Examiner.com

“Watch out for Árstíðir - this band is going to be a global sensation one day.”
SleepingBagStudios

“They sound big and orchestral like Sigur Rós and, like Ólöf Arnalds, they strike that magic balance between intimacy and mystery.”
MTV Iggy

“The delivery is mesmeric.”
Mark Muggeridge, Record of the Day, UK

“If you think that Iceland is only Björk and Sigur Rós, listen to Árstíðir!”
Michal Loska, Magnetoffon, Poland